"… THE WORLD IS NEVER LEFT WHOLLY WITHOUT GLORY"

Eliot, T.S. The Idea of a Christian Society. London: Faber & Faber, (1939). Octavo, original blue cloth, uncut, original dust jacket. $850.

First edition of Eliot's passionate argument against fascism, communism, and exploitation of the natural world.

"Written on the cusp of the outbreak of the Second World War, during a time of tension and unrest, this essay—originally an address [part of the Boutwood Lectures on religion and politics given at Corpus Christi, Cambridge in March 1939]—outlines Eliot's ideas about the potential futures for British society, and for Western societies more generally" (All Manner of Thing). Eliot, speaking on the eve of the war, was deeply concerned with countering Nazi values. He argued that neutrality would not lead to peace, but rather to disaster. Furthermore, Eliot argued that society was sliding toward pagan values and needed instead to embrace Christian values, whether or not individual members of society were devout believers. His view was that maintaining Christian values would lead to a certain positive sameness of belief among even the non-devout. Gallup A35.

Mild foxing to endpapers only, text clean, cloth with some darkening along edges and spine. Dust jacket with only minor toning to spine. A near-fine copy.